Extensible-retractable handles



Feb. 4, 1969 A. F. HUBBARD 3,425,756

EXTENSIBLBRETRACTABLE HANDLES Filed Oct. 12, 1966 INVENTOR ,4rf/zur A Hubharc/ United States Patent 3,425,756 EXTENSIBLE-RETRACTABLE HANDLES Arthur F. Hubbard, Moline, Ill., assignor to American Air Filter Company, Inc., Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 586,176 U.S. Cl. 306-28 Int. Cl. B25g 3/18; A01b 1/22; F16b 7/14 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background 0 the invention Some previous extensible-retractable handles adapted to be attached to selected articles, for example portable air heaters, are permanently attached to the article and once assembled cannot be readily taken apart. Such handles have usually included complicated mechanisms easily rendered inoperable by hard use or adverse conditions so that when the handle is damaged it is not easily removed for repair.

Such previous extensible-retractable handles have included welded or riveted construction so that when the handles have been assembled they are not readily disassembled for repair or other purposes Without destroying the assembly means. Other such extensible-retractable handles have included complicated slide construction with cooperative pin means to ride in slot means. Such construction generally has been cumbersome and complicated and the handles have been difficult to operate.

In accordance with the present invention, a new and useful extensible-retractable handle is provided to eliminate rigid attachment between cooperative working elements of the handle so that specialized .fiabrication means are not necessary to assemble the handle. It has further been recognized that the novel extensible-retractable han dle configuration in accordance with the present invention provides a handle which is straightforward in design and assembly and is easily disassembled to facilitate removal of the handle portion from the apparatus when it is not desirable to provide a handle on the apparatus. Furthermore, it has been recognized that the handle in accordance with the present invention can be easily removed for substitution of parts or other purposes. Moreover, the extensible-retractable handle in accordance with the present invention includes a minimum number of sturdy straightforward elements and works easily even when subjected to long periods of rough treatment.

Various other features of the present invention will become obvious to one skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth hereinafter.

More particularly, the present invention provides an extensible-retractable handle means, to be joined to selected apparatus, comprising: interlocking, relatively slidable, elongate channel and channel guide members, wherein said elongate channel member includes a substantially U-shaped cross-section comprising a base portion with spaced leg means extending laterally from the base portion and said guide member is cooperatively sized to nest in the channel member between the leg means so the channel member is free to slide longitudinally along th guide member; elongate bowed spring means to be attached to one of the members to be disposed in interposed relation between the members and wherein the other members has longitudinally disposed cooperatively spaced apertures; detent means affixed to the bowed portion of the spring means to be urged by the spring means toward the member having the apertures wherein the detent means is sized and disposed to be cooperatively engaged in the apertures; means to retain the guide means in cooperative nesting sliding relation with the channel means and retain the spring means between the guide means and the channel member.

It is to be understod that various changes can be made in the arrangement, form, and construction of the extensible-retractable handle disclosed herein without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention;

Referring now to the figures which show one example of an extensi'bleretractable handle in accordance with the present invention:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of an extensible-retractable handle means in accordance with the present invention; and,

FIGURE 2 is a view taken through a plane passing through line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 1 shows an example of an extensible-retractable handle in accordance with the present invention and illustrates the ease with which a handle in accordance with the present invention can be assembled and taken apart. In the example of FIGURE 1 a handle member 13 is joined to a channel member 1. A guide member 7 is adapted to cooperatively receive a bowed spring member 10 so the assembled elements can be received by channel 1 as hereinafter described.

Bowed spring means 10 is bowed a selected degree and can be made of suitable material, for example spring steel. A detent or button 5 (FIGURES 1 and 2) can be affixed to the center, or bowed, portion of the leaf spring 10 to extend outwardly from spring in the direction of bow of the leaf spring. Button 5 can be affixed to spring 10 by a suitable means, for example the button can have a externally, threaded portion to be received by a. cooperative internally threaded portion provided in spring 10. Button 5 can, advantageosuly, have a rounded head So.

In the example of FIGURE 1 spring 10 includes laterally extending tabs 12. In the example of FIGURE 1 tabs 12 are cooperatively received by slots 8 of guide -means 7 to permit assembly of spring 10 and guide 7 and to prevent relative movement between guide 7 and spring 10. Guide 7 is affixed to the selected article to which the handle is to be affixed and for example by means of supports 14. Channel member 1 and spring 10 can then be demountably assembled on guide 7 as hereinafter discussed.

It will be noted that spring 10 provides additional support for channel member 1 along the length of guide 7 and also provides rapid, positive gripping action between the detent means and aperture 6. Channel member 1 is provided to receive spring 10 and guide 7 in assembled condition. Channel member 1 is of selected length, deter" mined by the application of the handle, and includes a base portion 4 having apertures 6 advantageously sized to receive button 5 of spring 10. Apertures 6 are longitudinally spaced along base portion 4 and it will be noted that the spacing determines the locked positions of the handle so the spacing between apertures is in accordance with the desired positioning of the handle. Parallel legs 2 extend laterally from base 4 in the same direction and include inwardly directed flanges 3 to define a semienclosed chamber 13 to receive guide 7 and spring 10.

Parallel legs 2 are, advantageously, long enough to accomcommodate guide 7 and leaf spring 10, including button 5, in assembled condition. A handle 13 is advantageously fixed to the channel member 1 to move the article to which the assembled handle is attached.

As shown in FIGURE 1, an extensible-retractable handle in accordance with the present invention is easily assembled. Spring member 10 is cooperatively engaged in guide 7 by inserting tabs 12 through slots 8 of guide 7, Spring 10 is then compressed by urging button toward guide 7 to compress spring and reduce the width of the assembled guide and spring so that combination can be received in channel 1. It is to be noted that guide 7 and spring 10 are retained within channel 1 by flanges 3 of legs 2.

Channel 1 is moved longitudinally along guide 7 until button 5 and aperture 6 are in aligned relation so button 5 is urged into one of the apertures 6 by compressed spring 10 to engage the apertures so longitudinal movement is restricted.

Channel 1 is released for further movement along guide 7 by depressing button 5 to disengage the button from retaining aperture 6. Channel 1 can be moved along guide 7 to a different selected position corresponding to a different aperture while button 5 is depressed. It will be noted that the rounded head 5a of button 5 facilitates movement of channel 1 over button 5 when button 5 is disengaged from apertures 6.

In accordance with the present invention, it has been recognized that handle 1 is easily removed from base 7 when it is not desired to provide a handle on the selected article and that the handle is easily and quickly assembled without tools.

One alternate configuration (not shown) of a handle in accordance with the present invention can provide for apertures 6 to be located in the channel guide means 7. In such an arrangement, spring means 10 is disposed to slide with channel 1 to urge detent means 5 against channel guide means 7. Such an arrangement presents a pleasing appearance because the detent receiving apertures 6 are not visible when looking at the apparatus to which the handle is attached.

The invention claimed is:

1. An extensible-retrctable handle means to be joined to a selected apparatus comprising: an elongate channel member including a base portion having apertures spaced longitudinally along said base portion and spaced leg means extended laterally from said base portion; handle means joined to said channel member; channel guide means to be received by said channel means having transversely extending rigid, bracket means to be joined to said selected apparatus to 'aflix said handle means to said se' lected apparatus, said guide means being cooperatively received in said channel means between said leg means so said channel member is free to slide longitudinally along said guide means and said bracket means extends transversely outwardly from said guide means through the opening between said leg means of said channel member; elongate bowed spring means connected to said guide means and interposed between said guide means and said base portion of said channel means so said spring is urged against said base portion of said channel member; means to retain said guide means in cooperative nesting relation within said channel means so said bracket means extends outwardly from said guide means through the opening formed by said channel means to permit said channel means to slide along said guide means and to retain said bowed spring means between said guide means and said base portion of said channel; detent means aifixed to said elongate bowed spring means to be received only by said apertures in said base portion of said channel means, wherein said detent means are cooperatively disposed to be urged, by said bowed spring means, into locking relation with said apertures in said base portion of said channel means and said channel means slides longitudinally along said guide means so that when said detent means engage said apertures sliding movement of said channel is restricted; and, release means to selectively release said detent means from said interlocking relation with said apertures in said base portion to permit the sliding movement of the channel means along said guide means.

2. The extensible-retractable handle means of claim 1 wherein said means to retain said channel means in cooperative nesting, sliding, relation with said guide means and to retain said bowed spring means between said guide means and said channel member are cooperative fianges, one joined to each said leg means of said channel means, said flange means being directed inwardly toward each other in spaced relation from said base portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 261,761 7/1882 Price 292353 1,419,795 6/1922 Yerger. 1,522,628 1/1925 Holt. 1,742,596 1/1930 Hoff. 1,998,649 4/1935 Arden. 2,133,252 10/1938 Moore et al 27976 XR 2,571,382 10/1951 Raven 28754.1 2,594,605 4/1952 Zoppelt. 2,668,973 2/1954 Glaza et a1 15-176 3,222,095 12/1965 Gerus.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

ANDREW V. KUNDRAT, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

